Hospitalist
Who We Are and Services Offered
A primary care provider, an emergency doctor or another specialist will recommend that a customer-owner needs admission to the hospital. As a part of this process, a hospitalist who specializes in internal medicine and trained to care for hospitalized patients will supervise the customer-owner’s care.
Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in the practice of hospital medicine, a medical specialty dedicated to the delivery of comprehensive medical care to hospitalized patients. During your hospital stay you may have more than one hospitalist, but you will always be provided the continuity of care that you deserve.
An assigned hospitalist is available on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer your questions and respond to your medical needs. Because hospitalists work in shifts, this can sometimes mean that the same doctor will not be working every day. Depending on your length of stay in the hospital, this may mean that you may see two or more hospitalists while admitted. Hospitalists work with primary care providers, surgeons, specialists, nurses and other medical professionals in managing your hospital care.
The hospitalist will:
- Communicate with primary care providers and provide updates on any significant changes in condition.
- Help coordinate the discharge and prescribe medications that will need to be taken once you leave the hospital.
- Send a summary report of the hospitalization to your primary care provider’s clinic.
To speak with a hospitalist while in the hospital, ask the primary nurse to page the doctor. If the customer-owner’s assigned hospitalist is not on duty, then another hospitalist will assist.
Patient Resources
When you are discharged from the hospital, you will need to follow up with an Outpatient Internal Medicine provider or with your own primary care provider. If you live in the Anchorage service unit, you’ll receive care at the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center. If you live outside the Anchorage service unit, you’ll receive care within your region from your primary care provider. You should anticipate a primary care appointment soon after leaving the hospital. The appointment can either be made prior to leaving the hospital, or at your discretion. Hospitalists do not have any outpatient clinics.
Contact Information
You may also contact a hospitalist after having returned home if they have any questions about their hospital stay. Call (907) 729-2188 and ask to speak to a hospitalist.